‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Smile Back Big Time
By Peter Molenaar January 14th, 2012”¦ Marv Davidov, the world-renowned activist who quietly resided at 2615 Park Avenue, has passed. All of us would do well to “google” his name. The numerous tributes are rich in content. Should you open “The Wild Reed” site you will find him pictured smiling from his death bed. Freedom Rides, 1961”¦ 40-plus days behind bars, “We were the first group of integrated prisoners in Mississippi prison history.” The freedom songs prevailed. This was the “moment of blessed human solidarity” which determined the remainder of his life. Sometime around 1970”¦ My small circle of student friends found itself among the many hundreds amassed outside the Honeywell (war) production facility. Marv Davidov stepped forward to proclaim: “Any person committing an act of property damage will be considered by the body of this gathering to be an agent provocateur.” I was deeply [...]
Criticism And Self-Criticism
by Peter Molenaar Yes, the revolutionary process is again unfolding and is, this time around, discernible and understandable even to us “broad masses”. It is natural, in this context, for the most “gifted” to step forward as “partisans of the people”. It is natural, as well, that a competition for leadership status will develop between individuals and between political groupings. Some say that this competition is a good thing. However, a serious downside occurs when personal or sectarian interests are placed above the interests of the movement as a whole. When opportunism prevails, we all suffer the consequences. Are manifestations of this “left-opportunism” inevitable? The answer is: yes. Yes, because many of our educated people are inadequately grounded among the working class and the oppressed. As the revolution gathers steam, it then becomes increasingly obligatory for the actors to embrace [...]
Mixed Bag
by Peter Molenaar Unlike the esteemed guru who, it is said, once transcended all earthly attachments, the rest of us are bound to the spiritual ups and downs which reflect the satisfactions and irritations of our existence. St. Paul”'s Church, 11-11-11”¦ It was in conjunction with the 200th birthday of Wendell Phillips, renowned opponent of all forms of oppression, that this paper celebrated its 36 years. The evening unfolded as a high pinnacle event for the activist community of this neighborhood. There was as well a high-point moment for this writer. Despite his many years of socialist rantings in the space of this column, there was a warm ovation from an audience which included small business people. So, let it be said: The Welnas and Ingebretsens will have their place well into the future. (more…)
